State Employee Benefits

The following information will provide you an overview of
available State benefits. Some of these benefits are automatic
and others are elective.

Retirement: Full-time State employees who
are hired to work more than six months automatically become
members of the California
Public Employee's Retirement System (CALPERS) upon
appointment. Employees with other types of appointments must
meet certain criteria to become a member of CALPERS. CALPERS
membership offers several types of benefits including: service
retirement, disability retirement, industrial disability
retirement, basic death benefits, and group term life
insurance.

Health Coverage: As a State employee, you
may be eligible for health insurance to help you pay the cost
of hospital and other medical bills incurred by you and your
eligible dependents. Eligibility for health insurance for
State employees is based upon tenure and time base. Employees
must have an appointment which lasts for more than six months
and a time base of half-time or more. The State will pay for
part of your health plan premiums as soon as you enroll. The
State contribution is a flat dollar amount per month
depending on the number of enrolled dependents.

Vision Program: The Vision Program for
most employees and their dependents is automatic. Employees
appointed on a permanent basis with a time base of at least
half-time qualify and are automatically placed in the
program.

Dental Coverage: Dental insurance is
available for employees and their dependents. Employees
appointed on a permanent basis with a time base of at least
half-time or more qualifies.

Savings Plus Program: The Savings Plus
Program (Department of
Personnel Administration) is a long-term savings program
that offers the employee two ways to save for retirement. The
Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), authorized and governed by
Internal Revenue Code Section 457, and the Thrift Plan,
authorized and governed by Internal Revenue Code 401 (K).
These are both pre-tax retirement supplements which are
voluntary and in addition to the CALPERS contribution.

FlexElect: FlexElect is a voluntary
program which offers significant tax advantages and can
increase your take home pay. It is offered to you by the State
of California, Department of Personnel Administration, and is
available to all eligible employees.

Other benefits that the State of California offers are
Basic Group Term Life Insurance, Supplemental Life Insurance,
Long Term Disability, Group Legal Services Plan, and Long-Term
Care Insurance.

Vacation Leave: After the completion of
six qualifying pay periods, vacation leave is earned and
available for use.

Sick Leave: As a full-time employee, you
are credited with sick leave on the first day of the month
following completion of each pay period. Other time base
employees earn hours in increments compared to full-time (i.e.
half-time earn 4 hours, 3/4 time earn 6 hours, etc.). Sick
leave is available for use after the completion of one month
of State service.